This is the semi-autobiographical story of a young Chinese girl who immigrates to New York with her mother to seek the American dream. It’s told in clear, straightforward prose with interesting observations, insights and flashes of humor. A memorable line: For years, I calculated whether or not something was expensive by how many skirts it cost.

The first half of the book describing Kimberly’s struggle to cope with her new life was the best. Later parts focused more on her romances/relationships, which was much less interesting. I would have liked more detail about her life after escaping her evil relatives. Overall it was an engaging and enjoyable read, though the ending would have been stronger without the epilogue.